Method
How the population estimate works
The map lets you draw a custom boundary, then the backend estimates the number of people living inside that shape using population raster data.
Use the icon to start drawing, the icon to draw a circle, or the icon to measure distances on the map.
1. Draw any area you care about
You can trace a neighborhood, a city district, a coastline, a valley, or any other hand-drawn shape directly on the map. The app turns that trace into a cleaned polygon before sending it to the API.
2. The API matches your shape to population rasters
The backend uses WorldPop 2025 population rasters. It shortlists only the raster tiles that overlap your polygon, then reads the relevant data needed to estimate the population inside the boundary.
3. Large areas switch to a lower-resolution path
Small and medium areas use the higher-resolution path. Very large polygons switch to the project's optimized 1km fallback so the site stays responsive while still covering large regions and cross-country shapes.
4. The result is an estimate, not a census count
Population rasters are modelled datasets, not a live household registry. They are extremely useful for custom-area estimates, but they should still be treated as informed approximations rather than an official census total for a legal boundary.